Synonyms for defer
dɪˈfɜrde·fer

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. defer

   To protract is to cause to occupy a longer time than is usual, expected, or desirable. We defer a negotiation which we are slow to enter upon; we protract a negotiation which we are slow to conclude; delay may be used of any stage in the proceedings; we may delay a person as well as an action, but defer and protract are not used of persons. Elongate is not used of actions or abstractions, but only of material objects or extension in space; protract is very rarely used of concrete objects or extension in space; we elongate a line, protract a discussion. Protract has usually an unfavorable sense, implying that the matter referred to is already unduly long, or would be so if longer continued; continue is neutral, applying equally to the desirable or the undesirable. Postpone implies a definite intention to resume, as defer also does, though less decidedly; both are often used with some definite limitation of time; as, to postpone till, until, or to a certain day or hour. One may defer, delay, or postpone a matter intelligently and for good reason; he procrastinates through indolence and irresolution. Compare HINDER.

   Synonyms:
   continue, delay, draw out, elongate, extend, lengthen, postpone, procrastinate, prolong, protract

   Antonyms:
   abbreviate, abridge, conclude, contract, curtail, hasten, hurry, limit, reduce, shorten

   Preposition:
   To protract a speech by verbosity, through an unreasonable time, to, till, or until a late hour.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. defer

   Synonyms:
   delay, postpone, waive, adjourn, prorogue, put off, retard, procrastinate, protract, hinder, prolong

   Antonyms:
   expedite, hasten, quicken, press, urge, hurry, overdrive, despatch

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. postpone, prorogue, hold over, put over, table, shelve, set back, defer, remit, put offverb

   hold back to a later time

   "let's postpone the exam"

   Synonyms:
   put back, put over, elude, circumvent, set back, turn off, confuse, sidestep, dishearten, remand, give in, remit, parry, dodge, bow, send back, tabulate, accede, flurry, prorogue, hedge, put off, evade, tabularise, table, tabularize, carry over, postpone, duck, slacken, shelve, hold over, disconcert, knock back, get across, fudge, submit, skirt

2. submit, bow, defer, accede, give inverb

   yield to another's wish or opinion

   "The government bowed to the military pressure"

   Synonyms:
   put over, set back, put forward, buckle under, crouch, pass on, relegate, put in, resign, take, bow, give in, state, subject, remit, acquiesce, reconcile, accede, prorogue, assent, knuckle under, put off, bend, render, table, present, yield, postpone, posit, shelve, enter, hold over, succumb, bow down, stoop, submit

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. deferverb

   Synonyms:
   postpone, delay, adjourn, procrastinate, put off, stave off, let lie over

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "defer":

   postpone, reporter, delay, adjourn, differ, postponement, refer

How to pronounce defer?

How to say defer in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use defer in a sentence?

1. Finance Minister Hoshiyar Zebari:

   We have been really committed to paying this on time up until now, we are in discussions with the Kuwaitis, trying to defer the payment for two years or at least a year, to allow some space... to present a realistic budget.

2. Charles Caleb Colton:

   We may lay in a stock of pleasures, as we would lay in a stock of wine but if we defer tasting them too long, we shall find that both are soured by age.

3. William Congreve:

   Defer not till tomorrow to be wise, tomorrow's sun to thee may never rise.

4. Leonard Noisette:

   OSF supports the exploration and development of alternatives to current policing practices, and the Hub serves as a clearinghouse of ideas and resources to help advocates determine how best to improve police practices in their communities, we defer to communities regarding what alternatives make sense for them, including substantially shifting funding for the current approach to policing/law enforcement into services that address societal challenges while doing less harm.

5. Justin Sherlock:

   I'm just going to defer all my investment.